Vineyard Wampanoags Elect New Chairman, Marking Generational Shift

Tobias J. Vanderhoop was elected chairman of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) Sunday in a much-watched tribal election, unseating two-term chairman Cheryl Andrews-Maltais by a wide margin.

The final vote of 165-91 was confirmed by tribal chief Ryan Malonson just after 5 p.m.

Mr. Vanderhoop, 39, is the former tribal administrator. In his campaign he portrayed himself as a spokesman for an emerging contingent of young tribal members in Aquinnah, using social media to help spread his ideas and get out the vote.

About an hour after results were announced, he entered the town hall to a standing ovation.

Victory gathering at the Aquinnah town hall after Tobias Vanderhoop was elected tribal chairman.
— Mark Lovewell

He thanked his supporters.

“This was about bringing a circle of energy back to our community, it was about making our people feel like we needed them, we loved them and they all have something to offer,” Mr. Vanderhoop said. “It is our victory. I thank you all for everything you’ve done.”

He will take office in January.

“It’s the beginning of a new era,” said Beverly Wright, chairman of the Aquinnah selectmen and former tribal chairman.

“I am profoundly disappointed in the outcome of the election,” Mrs. Andrews-Maltais said in an emailed statement early Monday morning. “However I wish Tobias and our tribal community the best of luck in these very difficult and uncertain times.”

The election has attracted attention on the Island and beyond amid unfolding plans by the tribe to develop some kind of gaming initiative.

The prospect of a Vineyard casino was thrust back into the spotlight last week when Mrs. Andrews-Maltais announced the tribe was moving ahead to build a gaming facility in Aquinnah.

Coming five days before the election, the announcement coincided with the release of a late October opinion from the National Indian Gaming Commission, the federal agency responsible for overseeing Indian gaming, that concluded the tribe has a right to build a casino on land it owns on the Island.

The opinion is at odds with legal positions taken by state and Aquinnah town officials who say the tribe knowingly forfeited certain rights in a 1983 land claims settlement agreement that led to its federal recognition by Congress.

The differing views could set up a protracted legal battle that would likely push the spectre of a casino on the Vineyard well into the future.

Bus brings voters to the polls Sunday.
— Mark Lovewell

Mr. Vanderhoop has said he supports gaming but has not articulated a position on the issue of a casino on the Vineyard.

The election was held at tribal headquarters in Aquinnah on a gray, mild day with occasional rain. Of the estimated 1,300 members of the tribe, about 300 live on the Vineyard and about 900 are eligible to vote. Under tribal rules ballots must be cast in person. A bus was used to transport off-Island tribal members from the ferry to tribal council headquarters on Sunday for balloting.

Mr. Vanderhoop holds a master’s degree from Harvard’s Kennedy School. His campaign manager was Tiffany Smalley, who received her undergraduate degree from Harvard in 2011, the first Wampanoag to do so since 1665.

In a statement, the chairman-elect thanked his opponent and called on tribal members to take an active role in their new government.

“I extend my sincere thanks to Chairwoman Maltais for the passion she has for our people and the dedication she has shown to protect the rights of our tribe.

“Our journey has only begun — we need our people to continue to return home, engage, and provide direction to our tribal leadership so we can work together toward shared goals.”

There was much enthusiasm in the room during the celebration gathering Sunday evening.

“It’s a new change . . . . somebody new with new ideas and hopefully there will be more hindsight than casino, casino, casino because there’s more economic development opportunities that will work,” said Buddy Vanderhoop. “We need change, somebody who will listen to the people.”

“People wanted a change in how their leadership was representing them,” agreed Durwood Vanderhoop, who was elected tribal council secretary Sunday.

Tobias Vanderhoop singled out his young campaign staff, including his campaign manager Ms. Smalley, Michael Sellitti, Sophia Welch and Amira Madison, for special thanks.

His brother, Thomas Fantasia, then hopped on stage to perform a song he wrote in honor of Mr. Vanderhoop. All in the room grabbed hands and danced in a circle to the beat of Mr. Fantasia’s drum.

Can someone tell me if the new chairman does or does not support building a casino on tribal lands in Aquinnah -- or off-Island for that matter? That seems to be an important piece of information that has not been reported anywhere that I have seen as of yet. Did the reporter not think to ask this pressing question? The tribe finds in a position to make decisions that could change the character of the town of Aquinnah and the island of Martha's Vineyard for decades to come -- can he please make his position on the casino question public??

Congratulations Tobias! A well deserved victory.
Barry, to answer your question (which is addressed in the article), the new chairman 'does support gaming but has not articulated a position...on a casino on the island'

I realize the article states that Tobias "does support gaming but has not articulated a position ... On a casino." I am asking him to articulate a position. It's certainly an important position that needs to be shared with the public as soon as possible. This is not a tribal issue -- it's an island issue that will effect all residents of the Vineyard for many years to come. Simply reporting that he hasn't articulated a position is not good enough considering the stakes.
The Gazette or some other newspaper should press him to make a statement that makes his position on the casino issue clear.
Doesn't that go without saying?
Why is the first instinct of some of the people who comment on these sites to start an argument with other commenters? Don't you want to know where the new chairman stands on this issue? Is it ok with you that he hasn't articulated his position (after the election no less) on what could be one of the most important issues this island has ever faced?

What you are saying is certainly valid, however first i'll ask you to consider the timeline of these recent events, As the new chairman was only elected on Sunday.To say that the newspaper should "press him to make a statement" is a thought that may be premature at this point in time. As tribal members and other community members, we must realize that problems within the tribe deserve as much, if not more, attention than said "Casino", which if i may add, was an endeavor that began while under the former Chairwoman. I disagree with the idea that this is not a tribal issue, and only an island issue. This "casino" would be on Tribal land therefore making it a tribal issue.

Mr. Bernstein,
I'm sure Tobias will let you (and everybody else) know about his position on gaming. It's not going to happen TOMORROW! There certainly are more important issues to be addressed. Thanks for your interest.

Jeez I really don't want to get drawn into one of these back and forth arguments with anybody on these reader forums. But good lord I just think some of you people just enjoy being contrarian. Do you, or anybody for that matter, seriously believe that its okay for Mr. Vanderhoop not to take a position on the Casino issue BEFORE the election. I mean, Really? Should we just give all candidates and politicians a pass during their campaigns and not ask them to take a position any issues at all? And do you really think building a "casino" (not sure why you put that word in quotes when it will in fact be a place that allows poker and slots and gambling so it is in fact a "casino") in Aquinnah is strictly a tribal issue and has no effect on the rest of us? It's not a stretch to say a casino -- even a smaller one like this -- will radically alter the character of the Island and create a whole slew of problems for the town, the police department.
If you think it premature to ask Mr. Vanderhoop the question of where he stands on the issue of building a casino in Aquinnah then when should we ask the question -- when its already been built?

It's called democracy!!! As is evident through ALL of his statements, and as a true leader, he will listen to his people. The previous, but unrepresentative, decision of general membership will be revisited, he has mentioned. Your question has already been answered several times. Maybe you should ask some local tribal members what they think? As far as I've seen, the overwhelming majority of tribal members within the island community are not for a casino here. The current leadership and outgoing chair does not truly represent the people.
It's great you're taking a stake in the future of the tribal community, and our shared environment/community, but in my opinion, Mr. Vanderhoop certainly doesn't "owe" you anything, and I think that's what some of the responses above were trying to get at. The casino would have an effect on us ALL but the decision will come from tribal membership.

Congratulations Tobias, Faith your comments are right on the mark, he should be able to have time to enjoy his victory, and than figure out what his position is, which I am sure will include, tribal elders, and others as he sees fit. Ernie

The casino is a tribal issue.....Really?
Tell me how would the "tribe" get gamblers to and from the casino?
Tell me what impact this would have on the ENTIRE island?
I thought "greed is good", died in the eighties!

Faith, while I don't disagree with your position, Barry is correct in stating that it's important for people to know where Mr. Vanderhoop stands. That being said, Barry, you must realize that Faith is also accurate in that the news of the prospect of jumping into a casino took Mr. Vanderhoop as much by surprise as the rest of us. He has been working out what he thinks is the right path, and it takes time because he is actively trying to get perspectives from others so that what ever the Tribal membership decides it wants, he can move forward in a respectful way of our island community.

Thank you Inside Eyes for the balanced, articulate and respectful reply.
I wish other people wouldnt rush to judgement. While I am not Wampanoag, I will celebrate and respect the members choice for change. Chairman
Vanderhoop and the tribal members have every right to determine their next steps collectively, collaberatively and on their schedule.
I dont appreciate or understand the harsh tone of some previously posted comments. This island is small and very diverse. It's important that while we may not agree, we can engage effective, respectful communication.